In America today, we are seeing a new moral and spiritual awakening. People now, more than ever before, are turning to religion for answers and guidance. They have grown weary of a media establishment obsessed with sexuality, drug abuse, and investigative journalism. It is ready for something less risqué, less... French. The avant garde of the literary community (as typified by Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, and the rest of the Oprah's book club gang) has alienated the common airplane reader, who turns to solid, competent story telling from such Duty Free Store legends as Crichton, Michener, and the late Stephen King.

Facing these stark realities, the author was forced to reevaluate his plan for a sequel to Atlas Shrugged. Certainly, the sort of sex thrillers that fell so heavily from Rand's pen have little place in today's America. Like the licentious, misogynistic rap music clung to by the Hollywood elite, such immorality is an anachronism. A reminder of a time when beatniks threw respectability to the wind and hipsters did the Hustle as if Judgement would never reach them at such drug induced heights -- but we know better today and we certainly know better than to dwell on the mistakes of decades past when the world demands answers today.

As such, I regret to inform the reader that he can expect none of the unbridled sexuality of the Fountainhead or Atlas Shrugged in this text. In the modern era, if sex is to be, as Orwell would have it, a "political act," it must necessarily come after marriage. The tradition of marriage alone can stand against all forces -- even those of totalitarianism. Indeed, had Winston Smith properly wed the trollop he so "defiantly" fornicated with like an animal on the savannah, he might have found the fortitude not to scream her name as the rats surrounded him and beg that the authorities take her instead. As any of us who had the misfortune to be young in the nineties have learned, such betrayal is the inevitable result of such a Devil-may-care attitude toward human relations.

So even if the Randian ribaldry of Atlas Shrugged has no role in the current work, there could be no more important topic than Totalitarianism. The fight against Totalitarianism, both in Iraq and Afghanistan, is perhaps the central focus of intellectual energy in today's America, as well it should be. The complexities of this issue will be, the author fancies, fully explored. How does one find the enemy? And how does one destroy him once he is found? Rand's theme of the socialist obstructionist will play an important role here as well, for how can one detain the enemy when the socialist demands that we respect his human dignity?

Mothra, of course, presents a neat solution to this technical challenge in that she is in possession of none. As with the Gorgon of classical times, the goddess's wisdom ably shields us from the paralyzing foolishness of the socialist's protest. But even as an insect, she is still in possession of those wiles that made victims of so many of Odysseus's seamen. Will Galt know how she wants to be taken? And will Star Trek (the original series), though even in the 60s sometimes controversial, provide the appropriate tone?

It is clear at this stage, at least, that this book, at the outset, leaves many questions to be answered -- questions the author might discuss more fully in the epilogue.

The author wishes to acknowledge the tireless efforts of the Hulver's Site editorial team, who have to date provided valuable assistance with many manuscripts he has prepared for publication here. In particular, their work in correcting the various typos and solecisms that manage to slip by the author's keen eye has been and continues to be most appreciated. Most especially, the author wishes to express his boundless gratitude to Hulver himself, whose outstanding "Scoop" software has revolutionized the way fiction is published online.

Finally, that while readers are free to comment below (provided they have obtained a free account -- it only takes a minute and a working email address), as he has become rather disaffected with the general calibre of commentary on this site, he has disabled comments in his personal display preference -- hence, though you may comment, he will not see them. Therefore, the only sure way to reach the author is via email at dear.rmg@gmail.com.